Apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification

ABSTRACT

The method for identifying lateral pipes includes printing identifying indicia on the interior surface of a liner assembly positioned adjacent the lateral pipe. The apparatus includes the liner assembly in place with the identifying indicia visible from the interior of the pipe line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/098,075 filedApr. 4, 2005, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for lateralpipe identification.

In the repair of pipe lines, a TV camera is moved through the main linepipe to the place to be repaired. Often these repairs are needed atjunctions between the main line pipe and the lateral pipes coming fromeach house.

Identification from the inside of the main line pipe is very difficult.Many laterals have multiple bends, and it is difficult to identify whichlateral junction relates to which house or lateral pipe.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision ofan improved apparatus and method for lateral pipe identification.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which permits acamera within the main line pipe to photograph the identificationindicia for each lateral pipe.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which can be easilyvisible from the interior of the main line pipe.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus and method for lateral pipe identification which is simple,economical, and easy to install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects may be achieved by an apparatus and a method foridentifying a plurality of lateral pipes, each of which form a junctionwith a main pipe. The method comprises taking a main and lateral linerassembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface and beingcomprised of material that can be impregnated with a liquid that iscapable of curing and hardening. The interior surface of the linerassembly is marked with identifying indicia corresponding to one of thejunctions of one of the lateral sewer pipes with the main sewer pipe.The liner assembly is then moved within the main sewer pipe with theexterior surface of the liner assembly facing the main sewer pipe. Theliner assembly is positioned within the main sewer pipe so that theidentifying indicia corresponding to the one junction of the lateralsewer pipe with the main sewer pipe is adjacent the one junction.

According to another feature of the present invention, a camera is movedwithin the main sewer pipe adjacent the identifying indicia and is usedto view the identifying indicia and transmit the identifying indicia toa position above ground where the identifying indicia can be read.

According to another feature of the present invention, the interiorsurface of the line assembly is marked with a plurality of spaced apartindicia. Each of the plurality of indicia correspond to a different oneof the plurality of junctions. The liner assembly is moved within themain sewer pipe to a position wherein each of the plurality of spacedapart indicia is positioned adjacent one of the plurality of junctionscorresponding thereto.

According to another feature of the present invention, the linerassembly includes a main liner and the method comprises moving the mainliner within the main sewer pipe to a position adjacent the junction ofthe lateral sewer pipe to the main sewer pipe.

According to another feature of the present invention, the methodcomprises inverting the main liner during the moving step or pulling themain liner in place.

According to another feature of the present invention, the linerassembly is T or Y shaped, and includes a main liner and a lateralliner. The method comprises moving the lateral liner within one of thelater sewer pipes and moving the main liner within the main sewer pipe.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a liner assembly withinthe main sewer pipe. The liner assembly includes an exterior surfacethat faces the main sewer pipe and an interior surface that faces in aninner radial direction. The liner assembly is impregnated with a curedhardened material that imparts rigidity to the liner assembly. Theinterior surface of the liner assembly forms a hollow bore within themain pipe line. Identifying indicia are on the interior surface of theliner assembly corresponding to the lateral sewer pipe. The identifyingindicia are visible from inside the hollow bore of the liner assembly.

According to another feature of the present invention, the apparatuscomprises a liner assembly having a lateral liner within the lateralsewer pipe and a main liner within the main sewer pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the liner assembly in place with theidentifying indicia thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liner assembly utilized in FIG. 1,prior to installation.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1, and showing the linerassembly during installation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, and showing a furtherstage of the assembly.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the completed identification system of the presentinvention is shown. FIG. 1 shows a main pipe 10 and a lateral pipe 12which are joined together at a junction 14. The numeral 16 refers todamaged cracks in the lateral pipe 12 and the main pipe 10 adjacentjunction 14. This is a very common occurrence of failure and results inthe damaged cracks 16 at the junction 14.

The numeral 18 refers to a T-shaped or Y-shaped liner assemblycomprising a main liner 20 and a lateral liner 22. As can be seen inFIG. 1, the lateral liner 22 extends within the lateral pipe 12 and themain liner 20 remains within the main line pipe 10. The liner assemblymay be T-shaped as shown in FIG. 1 or may be Y-shaped to accommodate alateral line 12 which joins the main line 10 at an oblique angle. Themain liner assembly 18 is made of a material which can be impregnatedwith a curable hardened fluid. Usually this fluid is a resiness materialwhich impregnates the liner assembly 18. Preferably the liner assembly18 is made from felt, but other materials can be used which absorb thefluid before it cures and hardens. In FIG. 1, the fluid is shown in analready cured and hardened position so as to hold the liner assembly 18in the position shown in FIG. 1.

Identifying indicia 24 are printed on the interior surface of the mainliner 20. While it is preferably that these identifying indicia 24 beplaced in the main liner, it is also possible that they could be placedwithin the interior surface of the lateral liner 22, but preferably theyshould be visible from the main line 10. The identifying indicia 24 maybe the address of the house from which the lateral line 12 extends, orcould be other identifying indicia.

The numeral 26 refers to a mobile camera 26 having wheels 28 whichengage the interior walls of main pipe line 10. Camera 26 includes alens 30 which may be rotated so as to view the identifying indicia 24. Acable 32 is connected to the camera 26. Robotic cameras 26 are commonlyused in the repair of pipe lines. Thus it is possible to by virtue ofthe lens 30 to view the identifying indicia 24 and determine whichlateral liner 12 is being repaired. This is an important ability in therepair of lateral pipe lines because it is difficult from the interiorof the main pipe 10 to ascertain which particular lateral liner 12 isjoined with the main liner 10. Use of the identifying indicia 24facilitates this identification.

FIG. 2 shows the liner assembly 18 during the assembling process. Thelateral liner 22 is joined to the main liner 20, and the main liner 20is wrapped into a cylindrical configuration similar to that shown inFIG. 3. The identifying indicia 24 are provided on the interior surfaceof the main liner 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, a carrier canister 38 is shown. This carriercanister includes a closed end 40 and a cap 42 at the other end. A cable44 extends through the cap 42 and is connected to a loop 48 which isconnected to a bladder tube plug 46 closing the end of a lateral bladder36. The lateral bladder 36 is connected to a main bladder 34 whichextends outwardly through an opening 49 and which is attached to theouter surface of canister 38 at 50 and 52 and which is sealed to theouter surface of canister 38 at 50 and 52. The lateral liner 22 iswithin the canister 38 and is also within the lateral bladder 36. Themain bladder 34 is outside the canister 38. The main liner 20 is outsidethe main bladder 34. Air is introduced to the interior of canister 38,and this air causes the lateral bladder 36 to invert outwardly from theposition shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 into thelateral pipe 12. Similarly, the lateral liner 22 is inverted outwardlyinto the lateral line 12 and the exterior surface of the lateral liner22 faces the lateral pipe 12. The air pressure within canister 38 alsourges the main bladder 34 and the lateral bladder 36 outward in a radialdirection so as to press the lateral liner 22 against the lateral pipe12 and the main liner 20 against the main pipe 10.

After the resin or other fluid material cures and hardens, the bladders34, 36 are removed and the canister 38 is also removed to leave theliner assembly 18 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of an alternative form of the presentinvention. This alternative modified form is indicated by the numeral54. Shown in FIG. 5 is a first manhole 56 and a second manhole 58 whichare joined by a main sewer pipe 60. A first lateral sewer pipe 62 joinsthe main sewer pipe 60 and a second lateral sewer pipe 64 also joins themain sewer pipe 60. A liner assembly 65 includes a first liner assembly66 and a second liner assembly 68. A container 70 includes an outlet 71to which is connected the first end 66 of the liner assembly 65. Thecontainer 70 also includes an air hose 72 which is adapted to inject airinto the interior of container 70. A cable axle 74 is provided in thecenter of container 70 and includes a cable 76 wound there around andextending downwardly to be connected to plug 78 which closes the secondend 68 of liner assembly 65. By the injection of air into container 70through air hose 72, it is possible to cause the liner assembly 65 toinvert outwardly into the main sewer pipe 60. The inversion face 80represents the forward end of the inverting liner assembly 65.

Shown schematically on the interior surface of the liner assembly 65 area first identifying indicia 82 and a second identifying indicia 84.These identifying indicia 82, 84 invert outwardly so as to be on theinterior surface of the liner assembly 65 after they are inverted.Identifying indicia are positioned so as to be aligned with andcorrespond to the first lateral sewer pipe 62 and the second lateralsewer pipe 64 respectively.

It is usually necessary to cut openings in the main liner assembly 65adjacent the entry points of first lateral liner 62 and second lateralliner 64. However, the identifying indicia 82, 84 are positioned so asto continue to identify the locations of the first lateral liner 62 andthe second lateral liner 64 respectively. Thus it is possibly by meansof a camera such as shown in FIG. 1 to identify the particular lateralpipe which is being encountered.

The present invention contemplates numerous variations, options, andalternatives. For example, a main liner with markings can be installedand then a lateral liner can later be installed. Alternatively, thereneed not be a main liner, but only a lateral liner with markings wherethe markings in the lateral liner can be viewed from the main or fromthe lateral. The present invention provides for either inverting a mainliner or pulling-in-place. The present invention provides for using adeformed plastic pipe and reforming it, using a stainless steel pipe, orusing another alternative to a liner assembly being impregnated with acured hardened material to impart rigidity. These and other variations,options, and alternatives are well within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. An apparatus for lining at least a portion of a lateral sewer pipethat joins a main sewer pipe and for uniquely identifying the lateralsewer pipe from other lateral sewer pipes that join the main sewer pipe,the apparatus comprising: a lining tube having a first end and anopposite second end and adapted to conform to the interior surface ofthe lateral sewer pipe with an exterior surface of the lining tubefacing the lateral sewer pipe and an interior surface of the lining tubefacing an inner radial direction; wherein the lining tube includes aprinted identifying indicia viewable from within the lateral sewer pipe,the printed identifying indicia corresponding to the lateral sewer pipe.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lining tube is made of a resinabsorbable flexible material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein atleast a portion of the lining tube is impregnated with a resinousmaterial capable of curing and hardening that imparts rigidity to thelining tube.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printed identifyingindicia is a street address.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theprinted identifying indicia is on an interior surface of the tube nearone of the first and second ends.
 6. A method for identifying each of aplurality of lateral sewer pipes connected to a main sewer pipe at aplurality of junctions, the method comprising: providing a liningassembly having a main sewer pipe with an interior surface facingoutwardly and an exterior surface facing inwardly; printing a pluralityof identifying indicia corresponding to the plurality of lateral sewerpipes on the interior surface of the main sewer pipe lining; moving theliner assembly within the main sewer pipe; everting the liner assemblyso that the exterior surface of the main sewer pipe lining is exteriorto the main sewer pipe lining and the interior surface of the main sewerpipe lining is interior of the main sewer pipe with the identifyingindicia positioned near the corresponding lateral sewer pipes.
 7. Themethod of claim 7 further comprising: moving a camera within the mainsewer pipe and the liner assembly adjacent one of the plurality ofidentifying indicia; using the camera to photograph the one of theplurality of identifying indicia; and identifying the one of theplurality of junctions by the identifying indicia on the interior of theliner assembly.
 8. A method for identifying a lateral sewer pipe thatforms a pipe junction with a main sewer pipe comprising: providing aliner assembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface;marking the interior surface of the liner assembly with printedidentifying indicia corresponding to the lateral sewer pipe; moving theliner assembly within the main sewer pipe with the exterior surface ofthe liner assembly facing the main sewer pipe; and positioning the linerassembly within the main sewer pipe so that the printed identifyingindicia corresponding to the lateral sewer pipe is adjacent the pipejunction.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the liner assembly is made ofa resin absorbable flexible material.
 10. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising impregnating the liner assembly with a resinous materialcapable of curing and hardening that imparts rigidity to the linerassembly.